The UK government Student Finance eligibility and tuition fee status eligibility criteria for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals starting a course from September 2021 changed due to the UK no longer being a member of the EU. We explain more about this below.
If you started a course before that date, your fee status and funding entitlement will usually continue for the course duration, unless there is a relevant change in your circumstances.
You will need to plan a budget for university – please use our plannning your budget guidance and money saving tips.
If you have questions about your immigration status, please see our visas for study webpages where you can find information about the EU Settlement Scheme and about Student visas.
Please see our webpage about Tuition Fees, which includes a section about how Queen Mary assesses fee status.
UKCISA have a PDF guide for courses starting on or after 1 August 2021, detailing each of the categories of eligibility for Home fee status. Page 3 of the guide directs you to the relevant part to look at, according to your circumstances. Whether you pay the Home or Overseas tuition fee will be related to your nationality, residence history, and immigration status in the UK.
Only students who meet certain eligibility criteria are eligible for UK government Student Finance. We explain the categories of eligibility in the Personal Eligibility for EU/EEA/Swiss Students section of our Government Student Finance page. If you are eligible for Student Finance, it may be only for a Tuition Fee Loan, or it may also be for living costs support, and we explain in which circumstances you would be eligible. Our Government Student Finance page also explains what Student Finance is, how much it is, and how to apply for it.
If you are eligible for a Maintenance Loan and Tuition Fee Loan, please also read the other sections of our Undergraduate Funding information to make sure you are aware of all the sources of funding you may be eligible for. If you are only eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan, you will need to plan carefully how you will pay for your living costs:
If you are not eligible for Government Student Finance, it is likely that you will have been classified as an Overseas fee payer at Queen Mary. In which case please read our Money Options guidance for international students, to help you plan your funding.
Only students who meet certain eligibility criteria are eligible for UK government Postgraduate Loans. We explain the categories of eligibility in the Personal Eligibility for EU/EEA/Swiss Students section of our Postgraduate Funding page. That page also explains what a Postgraduate Loan is, how much it is, and how to apply for it. You will need to plan carefully how you will pay for your costs:
If you are not eligible for a Government Postgraduate Loan, it is likely that you will have been classified as an Overseas fee payer at Queen Mary. In which case please read our Money Options guidance for international students, to help you plan your funding.
Most full-time students cannot claim most welfare benefits. However, there are sometimes limited exceptions for students with childrenand students with a disability or ongoing health condition.
If you might meet the eligibility to claim welfare benefits as a student, you also need to check if, as an EU/EEA or Swiss national, you meet the eligibility criteria to claim benefits in the UK. This requires you to have the ‘right to reside’ and to pass the ‘habitual residence test’. There are some welfare benefits which you can only claim if you have Settled Status, and others which you can claim if you have either Pre-Settled or Settled Status. Please read the Citizens Advice Bureau information about EU/EEA/ Swiss nationals claiming benefits, to help you understand if you meet the basic eligibility criteria. Contact a Welfare Adviser if you need advice about this. If you are in the UK with immigration permission as a Student or Visitor, you will have a 'No Recourse to Public Funds' restriction which means you are not eligible for UK welfare benefits and will need to ensure you have sufficient funds for the duration of your course.